Apparatus and method of supporting media in an image transfer system
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorJason S. Belbey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image transfer system, including a member for supporting print media, the member including a pair of sidewalls depending therefrom, a pair of end caps, wherein one end cap is connected to the sidewalls at an end thereof and the other end cap is connected to the opposite end of the sidewalls, and a heating element disposed against the underside of the member and in contact with each of sidewalls and end caps.
Claims42
An image transfer system, comprising:
- a member for supporting media, said member including a pair of sidewalls depending therefrom;
- a pair of end caps, wherein one end cap is connected to the sidewalls at an end thereof and the other end cap is connected to the opposite end of the sidewalls;
- and
- a heating element disposed against the underside of said member and in contact with each of said sidewalls and said end caps.
A method of heating media in an image transfer system, comprising:
- providing a member for supporting said media, said member including a pair of sidewalls depending therefrom;
- connecting an end cap to the sidewalls at each of the ends thereof;
- and
- fixing a heating element against the underside of said member and against each of said sidewalls and said end caps.
An image transfer system, comprising:
- means for drawing media against a member having a surface for supporting said media, said member including a plurality of spaced apart grooves, wherein said grooves are disposed substantially on said member surface;
- means for evacuating air from said grooves thereby to hold said media against said member surface;
- and
- means disposed at one end of said member for preventing air flow into said grooves at an edge of said member defined by said member end.
An image transfer system, comprising:
- a platen having a surface for supporting media;
- means for drawing media against said platen surface wherein said platen includes a surface for supporting media, said platen further including a plurality of spaced apart grooves, wherein said grooves are disposed substantially the length of said platen;
- means for evacuating air from said grooves thereby to hold said media against said platen surface;
- and
- means disposed intermediate the ends of said platen for preventing airflow into said grooves from an edge of said platen.
A method of drawing media against a member, comprising:
- providing a platen having a surface for supporting media, said platen including a plurality of spaced apart grooves, wherein said grooves are disposed substantially the length of said platen;
- evacuating air from said grooves thereby to hold said media against said platen surface;
- and
- providing means disposed at one end of said platen for preventing air flow into said grooves at an edge of said platen defined by said platen end.
An apparatus for heating media, comprising:
- a platen for supporting said media, said platen including a pair of sidewalls depending therefrom;
- a pair of end caps, wherein one end cap is connected to the sidewalls at an end thereof and the other end cap is connected to the opposite ends of the sidewalls;
- and
- a heating element disposed against the underside of said platen and in contact with each of said sidewalls and said end caps.
An apparatus for drawing media against a member, comprising:
- a platen having a surface for supporting media, said platen including a plurality of spaced apart grooves, wherein said grooves are disposed substantially the length of said platen surface;
- means for evacuating air from said grooves thereby to hold said print media against said platen surface;
- and
- means disposed at one end of said platen for preventing air flow into said grooves at an edge of said platen defined by said platen end.
An apparatus for drawing media against a platen surface, comprising:
- a platen having a surface for supporting media, said platen including a plurality of spaced apart grooves, wherein said grooves are disposed substantially the length of said platen;
- means for evacuating air from said grooves thereby to hold said media against said platen surface;
- and
- means disposed intermediate the ends of said platen for preventing airflow into said grooves from an edge of said platen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.